Tag Archives: Eternity

The white truck barreled straight toward our Subaru as we traveled on a two-lane desert highway somewhere between Phoenix and Las Vegas. The approaching truck seemed determined to pass several larger transport vehicles.

Bright morning sun shone in such a way that the approaching truck blended in with the string of big rigs it was passing. From the vantage of my passenger seat, I was able to see what my husband didn’t. When I warned him, Ron’s quick reaction and ability to pull onto the shoulder kept us from what would have probably been a fatal accident.

“Good teamwork,” I can joke in retrospect!

Too flabbergasted by the close call to speak or even feel frightened, my husband broke our stunned silence observing, “All the guesswork of eternity would have been over!” His comment made me chuckle!

Solomon declared that God has made everything beautiful in its time and furthermore, has planted eternity in the heart. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Ron and I have discussed eternity on many occasions—especially following the loss of loved ones. Without a single doubt, we have faith there’s life after death. The promise of eternity is real, and yet…

Even though we realize death is inevitable, unknowns surrounding the transition from earthly to eternal existence remain a mystery.

I suppose faith always involves a bit of “guesswork.”

Ron’s comment following our near calamity reminded me that one of these days, all questions concerning eternal life after death will be answered. Not everyone who taught about Heaven will have been 100 percent accurate, but I doubt we’ll care much about that then.

As I type these words, I realize I’m glad I’m able to type them and that our time to transition to eternity remains in the future. I am, however, grateful for the very real reminder that eternity has been planted in our hearts and may even arrive more quickly than we plan.

Scenes such as the red rocks around Sedona, AZ are spectacular, but I wasn’t crazy about the narrow, winding mountain roads!

I insisted Ron stop and take a picture of this funky little store we saw while passing through a small Nevada town.

Sue Reeve

God has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart… (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)

I inherited a large-print Bible from my aunt. While perusing the pages, I found this familiar passage from John circled in pencil. In her trademark handwriting, my aunt wrote in the margin: “To God be the glory!”

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14: 1 & 2 NKJV)

This familiar passage reminds me Christian faith pivots on the promise of eternal life.

My aunt was bright, talkative, funny. Her laughter was spontaneous and hearty. She loved words like I do. As a child, I sat mesmerized while she recited long poems from memory.

She was also a masterful gardener. Her well-tended garden yielded bountiful crops of veggies. She especially loved flowers. Many varieties surrounded her small house.

When my aunt was dying, I went to the care facility to visit. I knew she wouldn’t recognize me, but I needed to spend time in her feeble presence recalling the impact her life had on mine.

When she woke, I rose from a vinyl chair and stood next to her bedside.

“How are you doing?”

With a twinkle in her cloudy eyes, she said she was about to move into a cute little house a team of men were getting ready for her. With characteristic animation, she explained each room would be decorated in a different way. “Oh,” she added, “There will be SO many flowers!” The frail woman whose life ebbed away seemed as elated as a kid waiting for Christmas!

Many would dismiss my aunt’s words as mere ramblings of a dying person.

I wonder.

Is it possible she was given a little preview of the Heavenly home being prepared for her? Could it be that one of those ‘mansions’ Jesus spoke of to his friends is a cute little house surrounded by massive beds of ruffled peonies, jewel-toned zinnias, beauteous begonias and every imaginable variety of fragrant rose?

As Mercy Me conjectures in their compelling song, I Can Only Imagine[1]…

Consider & Imagine:

Consideryour views related to end of life and eternity. How do those views impact the way you live everyday life?

Let your thoughts flow freely. Imagine, what would you like your heavenly ‘mansion’ to look like? (I’d like mine to be on the ocean!)

Prayer:

God, Giver of Life,

Your very breath bestows life. You know each step I take in my earthly journey. You also know what my life will be like after I’ve taken my final breath. Help me live each day well, loving you and loving others in the light of eternity. Amen